Grave concealing device



May 17, 1932. w. c. EVANS GRAVE CONCEALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet ans CLEU

w I w May 17, 1932.

W. C. EVANS GRAVE CONCEALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1932 w. c. EVANS 1,858,439

GRAVE CONC-EALING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM .c- EVANS, or cases IQ A eae r QNEALINGTEVIGE Application filed January 24, 1-931. Serial No. 511,065.

This invention relates to a grave concealing device and aims .to provide means which may be connected .to the usual casket lowering device to operate in connection there- 5 with.

An important object of the invention is to provide a grave concealing device embodying an adjustable rectangular frame, so constructed that the length and width of the frame may be readily and easily .adjusted, to adapt the device for use in connection with graves of various sizes.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of clamps for clamping the supporting straps .of the grave concealing device to the rotatable side railsof a casket lowering device, thereby eliminating any possibility of the straps slipping, while the side rails are rotating to lower a casket.

2 A. still further object of the invention is to provide means for securing a grave concealing device to a casket lowering device, in such a way that one side of the grave concealing device will be automaticall' released, when the casket reaches a pre etermined depth in the grave, to the end that i s dera1ls of a casket lowerlng devlce areinthe graveconcealing device will be automatically elevated atone side of the grave-upon continued movement of the casket to the bottom ofthe-grave.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, maybe made with in the scope-of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Referring to the drawings:

Figu 1 i P an i wof acask l ing device equipped with a grave concealing device, constructedinaccordance with the inventi n- F ur .2 i ase t en i w t ke ine :2- 2 o F g re Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating a s0 casketias ingl cw red ateagrave.

split providing plurality ofouter surfaces of which being threaded .to .receivethe sleeves l1,.the sleeves and fingers being slightly tapered so that when the Figure 6 is a plan view of the frame of the grave concealing device.

Figure 7 is .an enlarged detail view illustrating the means for securing the telescoping sections of the sides or ends of the frame, in their positions of adjustment.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view illustrating one of the clamps for clamping the straps tothe side rails of a casket lowering device.

Figure 9 is a front elevational view thereof. Figure 10 is a sectional view through one of the side rails of a casket lowering device, illustrating the clamps used .in clamping the opposite ends of the supporting straps to the rail 'at-theopposite side of the casket loweringdevice.

Figure 11 is a sectional view through one of the side rails of a casket lowering device, showing one of the supporting hooks.

Referring to thedrawings in detail, the

dicated generallyby the reference character 1, the side rails. being of the usual and Well known construction. The grave concealing device comprises a rectangular frame embodying tubular side members 5 that have inwardly curved end portions 6, which end portions receive the rods {7.

Thetubular side members receive the rods ,8 that are connected with the rods '7 by means of {the-elbows 9. The ends of the tubular side members 5 and curvedend ortions v6 are h ngers 10, the

sleevesarerotated to move them lo gitudi-v nally of the fingers, in one direction, the

fingers will be forcedinto close engagement .with the ,rod .associated therewith. Thus it z-Win be seen ha he f ame may b justed a to wi th an l gth, a d ecure n uc adjust d-po i ion.byhesle ve 1 A flexib1e ;-cov ering constructe'd'in sucha way as around the side members and end portions as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings.

The grave concealing device or frame isv supported by means of the straps 15 at one side thereof, and the straps 16'at the opposite side of the frame. The straps 15 at one side of the grave concealing device are secured to the casket lowering device, by'means of the clamps 17 each of which comprises a curved metallic member, one end thereof being formed into a loop 18 to which the link 19 is connected, the links 19 of the straps providing means whereby the straps 15 may be connected to the clamps.

Each clamp also embodies a loop 20 to which the clamping ring 21 is connected. Connected with each clamping ring 21 is a locking lever 22 which has its end 23 so arranged that it will fit within the hook member 24 formed at one end of the clamping member, to draw the ends of the clamping member together, when the locking member is moved to its active position. A leather packing strip indicated at 24 is secured within each clamping member and acts to set up a binding action with the side rail of the casket lowering device on which the clamps are secured, so that rotary movement of the side rail of the casket lowering device will act to wind or unwind the straps 15 according to the direction of rotation of the side rails. The clamps 25 at the opposite'side of the casket lowering device are of substantially the same construction as the clamps 17, except that the clamps 25 are provided with hooks 26 that fit into the links 27 of the straps 16. These hooks 26 are so constructed that when the side rail of the casket lowering device on which the clamps 25 are mounted, is rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown by Figure 8, the hooks 26 will become disengaged from the links 27, releasing the straps 16 and allowing the grave concealing device to fall to a position as shown by Figure 4 of the drawings where it is out of the way of the casket which is being lowered into the grave. This releasing of the grave concealing device takes place when the straps 15 have become unwound from the side rail of the casket lowering device on which they are positioned, with the result that upon continued rotary movement of the side rail, the straps 15 are wound on the side rail, with the result that the grave concealing device is elevated to a position where it may rest on the hooks 28 that are loosely mounted on the side rail of the casket lowering device, on which the straps 15 are being wound- It-might be further stated that the straps 13 and 14 are provided with buckles such as indicated by the reference character 29, and retaining loops 30, so that the lengths of the straps may be readily and easily adjusted to secure the flexible covering 12 in position, when the frame on whichthe covering is mounted, is adjusted. The straps 29 are the usual casket supporting straps forming apart of the casket lowering device now incommo11use,'and form no part of the present invention. In the use of the device, the grave concealing frame with its cover, is supportedin a manner as shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, the straps 15 and 16 there of being wound on the side rails of the casket lowering device in such a way that when the casket lowering device is operated to lower a casket, the grave concealing device will move downwardly within the grave, the straps 1 and 16 unwinding, as the casket is being lowered. Then the grave concealin device reaches a predetermined point, the Iiooks 26 will disengage the links 27, releasing the straps 16 and allowing the grave concealing device to swing to a position as shown by Figure 4.

As the side rails continue to rotate, the straps 15 will be wound on the rail with which it is connected, elevating the grave concealing device to a position where it may be hooked overthe hooks 28 and held in such position until the grave is to be filled.

I claim} 1. In combination with the side rails of a casket lowering device, agrave concealing device comprising an adjustable frame, a covering for the frame, straps connected with the frame and wound on the side rails, said straps adapted to unwind from the side rails i to lower the grave concealing device as the side rails are, rotated to lower acasket, and clamps for connecting the straps at one side of the frame to the casket lowering device to automatically release the straps at one side of the casket lowering device when the grave concealing device reaches a predetermined point within the grave;

2. In combination with the side rails of a casket lowering device, a grave concealing 1 device comprising a frame, clamps removably connected with the side rails of the casket lowering device, straps connected with certain of the clamps and having connection with one side of the frame, said straps being wound on the side ra-ils,"hook's carried by certain of the clamps, the straps at one side of the frame adapted to engage the hooks to removably connect the straps to the clamps,

and said straps adapted to unwind from-the rails as the side rails are rotated tolower the frame into a grave with a casket. 1

3. In combination with the side rails of a casket lowering device, a grave concealing device comprising an adjustable frame adjustable to fit within the grave with which it is used, straps connected with the frame, clamps for connecting the straps to the side rails of the casket lowering device to wind the straps on the side rails, means for automatically releasing the straps at one side of the frame from the clamps, and means for supporting the frame at the top of the grave.

4. A grave concealing device comprising a frame, for use in connection with a casket lowering device embodying rotatable side rails, straps connected with the grave concealing device, means for connecting the straps to the rotatable side rails of the casket lowering device said straps being wound on the side rails and adapted to unwind to lower the grave concealing device when a casket is lowered into the grave, removable clamps for connecting the straps at one sideof the grave concealing device to one of the rotatable side rails, to automatically release the straps connected therewith when the grave concealing device reaches a predetermined point within the grave, and the straps at one side of the grave concealing device adapted to wind on the side rail to elevate the grave concealing device as the casket reaches the bottom of the grave and the side rails continue to rotate.

5. A grave concealin device comprising a frame, a covering for t e frame, straps connected with the sides of the frame, clamps connected with the straps, each of the clamps comprising a split metallic ring member adapted to clamp the side rails of a casket lowering device, a locking lever forming a part of each clamp and adapted to operate to cause the clamps to grip the side rails of a casket lowering device, and means for connecting the straps at one side of the grave concealing device to certain of the clamps, to automatically release the straps.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature.

WILLIAM C. EVANS. 

